Sugar dispenser



' T. BAILEY SUGAR D/ISPENSER Fil ed April 5, 1944 Jan. 22, 1946.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 72604572 Baz'y m Jan. 22, 1946. T. BAILEY SUGAR DISPENSER Filed April 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN T0 AITDRNEYS Patented Jan. 22, 1946 UNITED ST TE OFHCE.

SUGAR DISPENSER Theodore Bailey, Habana, Cuba Application April 5, 1944, Serial No. 529,645 r a claims; I (01. 222-158) 7 The invention relates to measuring and dispensing devices generally, and more, particularly to a type thereof that'is designed for household use, in the measuring and. dispensing of granular and pulverulent materials, such as sugar, flour and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind andone that is highly eflicient in the dispensing of granular or'pulverulent materials in accurately measured quantities, suitable to meet the demands of fine crockery, particularly in households, boarding housesand the like, and which is capable of being-manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Another object of the invention has to do with the provision of a device of the character mentioned. that is in the nature of an attachment for certain standard forms of containers, such asglass' jars and the like, so that the same may be readily removed from andreplaced on a container for the replenishment of the content of the latter and for cleaning purposes.

A further object of the invention'resides in the provision of a container and a measuring and dispensing' attachment combination for maintaining a" plentiful supply of a granular or pulverulent material in a sanitar'y'ficondition anda state of readiness for instant use at all times, the parts, container and attachment being'preferably made of transparent materials, such as glass or a plastic, or a combination or both, for 'cheapness in manufacture and to expose thecontent to View for instant information as to the amount of ma terial available'for-use and of the proper feed of the material into andthrough the attachment from the container.

With these and other objects of equal importance in view, the inventionresides in the certain new and'useful combination, construction and arrangement of parts; as "will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, set 'forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: r I

Figure 1 is a frontelevation'of the device in accordance with the invention, and showing the attachment in its operative relation to a container, the latter and the connected part of the attachment being in section;

Figure 2 is a top plan viewof the attachment p i, j Figure 3 is a verticalsection taken on the line 3- 3 of Figure 2; w v f Figure dis a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure '4, but taken on the line 5-5 of Figured; and

Figure 6 is atop plan view of the lower of the elements for controlling the discharge of a measured quantity of material from the :cupof the attachment, the same being shown apart from its mounting on the cup.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views,-the embodiment of the invention, as is exemplified therein, is comprised'in a cup I I that preferably takes the form of an inverted conic frustum which is open at both ends and is mounted for limited rotative movement relative to an attaching member 12 from which it is supported. The attaching member I2 is comprised in a wall portion li 'thatis bounded at its-upper'and lower sides by annular flanges l3 and Hi, the upper flange l3 being screw-threaded at its inner side for engagement with the complementally screw-threaded mouth portionof an inverted container A, preferably "with a rubber band or the like B interposed therebetween, while the lower flange I4 is engaged over the upper (larger) end of the cup II: The exterior surface of the ring formed by the flanges l3 and I4 is preferably provided with a series of vertical ridges of the like I5, or otherwise roughened, to facilitate the turning movements of the attaching member I2'necessary for its'engagement with or removal from the container mouth. a

The top side'of the wall l2 of the attaching member I2 is dished inwardly from a' point adjacent the upper flange l3 and about a centrally enlarged portion [6 outwardly from which a series of equidistantly spaced'op'enings H are formed in the wall for the passage of material from the container A downwardly therethrough when required. Those parts l2 of the wall 12 between the openings I! are of inverted V-form in cross section. The enlarged portion i6 is made hollow and its interior is fully open through the lower sideof the wall l 2jwhile its top end wall is apertured to receive theupperendof a shaft"!!! upon which the cup u is mounted for the aforesaid limite d rotative movements. The shaft l 8 preierably takes the formoi a bolt having a retaining nut 19 on its u-pper end and avwasher 20 interposed vbetweenrthe nut and the top end wall of the enlarged portionlS. I Fitted into the upper end of the cup H is a flat plate 2i that is formed with a centrally depressed portion 22 and a series of radially disposed openings 23 corresponding in number to that of the openings I! in the wall l2 of the attaching member. With the cup I I in place on the shaft l8, the end or valve plate 2| directly underlies the bottom side of the wall I2 and the openings 23 are normally out of registry with the openings l1, so that material fromthe container A is prevented from discharge therethrough until a portion of the same is to be measured and dispensed. The end plate 2| is rotatable with the cup through the medium of a lug 24 formed at the inner side of the latter and engaged in a recess 25 formed in the periphery of the former, so that the openings 23 of the end plate will be moved into and out of registry with the openings H, of the wall IE -fitthe attaching member I2, when the cup is shifted from one to the other of its positions. A coil spring 26 is positioned on the shaftl'l randzispartially housed within the enlarged portion I6 ,of the wall I2, and has its lower end seated within the depressed portion -22,-of the end plate -?2|, with its upper :end secured in the top wall of the enlarged portion |6and-its lower end in the bottom wall of the depressed portion r22. .-Secured within the interioraof the enlarged portion Hi, :about the spring 2B,,is :3. sleeve?! which has a portion of its lower end cut away, as at 28 (Figure 4) 'torformrars'lotway for-a lug -29 pro- J'ecting ,from "the :side wall of the depressed :por-

tion 22; the slotwaytbeingmroportioned to limit the movement of the stop lug 2'9 with the cup I sufiicient'ly only to allow "the discharge :openings :23, of the-endgplata'zi tow-be moved into and .out iOf registry with the discharge openings H in thewalH 2"ofthe attachingzmember'|2 mount- -ed'on mouth of the container A. handle #30 is provided on the cnp atlapoi-nt just below its upper :end for H3 manipulation .2430 position :to ;;place the discharge openings '23 in the end :plate 1| in registry with the discharge openings 1:1. The turning "movement of the cup 2 .iincreases 'the torsion -;of the spring 26 and results inanuick automaticreturn-pfathe cup tornorma-l iposition, :upon the release pf the handle '30 by the operator.

vThe lower end 'of the soup 1H is provided with a dished wall 3.1 whichlis likewise formed to pro video, centrally :enlarged portion 32 :and :a series of radially idisposed :discha-rge -openings :33, corresponding insnumber and arrangement to those in the wall 12* .of the attaching :memb'er |.2 engaged with the imouth of the :container A. Those :portions 34* l of the wall r31 :located :between the enings 233 are of inverted V-form I'inzcrnss sec- :tion. Engaged over the lower endnf *the cup "is a valve 1plate34 that :is .za-lsorformed'toxprovide a "centrally :depressed portion 35 in line with ithe enlarged portion 132 andaseries of radially disposed discharge openings 36 which are --to be moved into and out of rregistry with the openings 33, when the valve ,plate is rotated relatively to the :cup. The shaft H3 is passed upwardly through ,aligned apertures formed in the bottom walllof the depressed portion 35-andthe top wall of the enlarged portion. 32, so that headed end L31 supports the valve plate 34 :against :the lower end of therbody Housed within-the enlarged portion 1-32 and the depressedportionili is a coil spring t. 3 8 1 that has its upper end secured in the top wall of thel former and its lowertend in the bottom wall of the latten .Also housed within the enlarged portion 3'2 about the coil p ing 3'8 is a semiscircularelement39thathas its lower end depending within the depressed portion 35 for cooperation with a similarly shaped thickened portion 40 of the side wall of the latter, the portion 40 having a lesser arc length than the element 39 to permit of a rotative movement of the valve plate 34 suificiently only to shift the discharge openings 36 into and out of registry with the discharge openings 33. The valve plate 34 is provided with a radially extending handle 4| for its rotative manipulation to .place the discharge .openings36 in registry-with the discharge openings 3.3, the torsion effort of the spring 38 acting to return the valve plate to its normal cut ofi position, when the handle 4| is released by the operator.

The container A can be of any standard or special size, square or round, and made of any suitable transparent material, or otherwise take the :form aof "the :glass jar that is commonly employed ,i-n canning and preserving operations. Likewise, the attachment with the exception, for instance, of the shaft |8 andits-associated parts may be made -from anysuitable transparent material, althoughoneofthe-zseveral available plastics ,is preferred. The cup is-preier-ably made to havea capacity of apup-that isordinarily employed in household kitchens and the/slits side wall provided with alscaleof graduationsdenoting A; and 54;, :proportions of the whole unit of measurement, the -scaleibeing positioned, with referenceto the handles 30 and 4|, for ready observation by the operator.

In operation, :with the attachment secured on the mouth of the'containerlA, which may be conveniently supported :within a kitchen cabinet (not shown) 'or-.from-a wall, the operator will rasp the handle 30 (and turn the-cup relatively to the attaching member l2 from which it is cooperativelysupported-and until the stop -lugfZB abutstheend of the slotway 28, when the discharge openings 23., in -thenend plate 21, will be in registry with the discharge openings I in the Wall Il and-material ,from the container A will gravitate; into i the cup M As soon as the material reaches aselected graduation .on the scale, the operator will release the handle and the-spring -26 will irn-mediatelyxsnap the "cup back to its initial position,=moving the discharge openings 23 ,out of registry with .thedischarge openings 11, thus cutting the rflow of material from the container. Following this, the operator now grasps the handle =4| and turns the valve plate 34 relatively to thecup "Ll thus "placing ,the discharge openings 36 in registry with thedischarge openings 33, when :the measured .material will flow from the cup and into =a receptacle (not shown) held or placed immediately :beneath the lower end of thecup; Upon releasing the hamdle'4|, the =springi38 wilhquicklyreturn the valve plate-.34 to its out off position, with'the discharge openings .36 out of registry with the discharge openings 33. The parts J6. and 22 provide a housingior the spring 25, and the parts 32 and 35 provide a housing for the spring.

Having thus ,fully described ,;invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in design and minor structural details -may be resorted to, without departing irom the spirit of the invention or its scope-asclaimed.

Whatl claim is:

1. The combination with a container having an openlmouth, .of a measuring and dispensing device attached to and supported therebmand including a .cup having an .upper open endna top valve plate supported in the. open len'dvoflthe cup and having dispensing openings therein, an attaching member adapted to be engaged over the open mouth of the container and having a wall with dispensing openings therein and an enlarged hollow central portion, the top valve plate having a depressed portion registering with the hollow enlarged portion to form a housing, and the openings in the top valve plate adapted to register with the openings in the wall of the attaching member, the bottom of the cup having a wall formed with dispensing openings, a bottom valve plate over the bottom of the cup having dispensing openings adapted to register with those in the bottom wall, hollow members in the bottom wall and the bottom valve plate registering to form a housing, a shaft passing through thehousing and through the cup to rotatably support the cup from the attaching member over the mouth of the container, and to rotatably support the bottom valve plate with respect to the cup, and a pair of springs, one in each housing, designed to normally hold the cup and the bottom valve plate respectively in position where the bottom wall of the cup, and its other end the openings in the valve plates will be out of registry with those in said walls.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom Wall of the attaching member over the mouth of the container, the top valve plate, the bottom wall of the cup, and the bottom valve plate are all circular and have registering valve openings radiating from a common central point in the cup and the walls and valve plates, and wherein the wall of the attaching member and the wall at the bottom of the cup are dished.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the respective springs are carried about the shaft, one end of the upper spring being fixed with respect to the attaching member, and the other end connected with the top valve plate; and one end of the other spring being fixed with respect to connected with the bottom valve plate, and wherein stops are provided for the cup and the valve plate respectively.

THEODORE BAILEY. 

